The History of Ancient Egyptian Jewellery

April 30, 2018

It’s been hundreds of thousands of years since the first simple jewellery pieces were crafted from seashells, bone, and animal skin. In the years since our ancestors first left the African continent, Egypt has become a dominant civilisation in ancient history. They were empowered by advances in technology, and access to gemstones and precious metals. They were inspired by the culture of royalty and nobles who had a deep appreciation for luxury and it wasn’t long before they became the leading force in manufacturing jewellery and creating long lasting trends.

Perhaps the moment that define the rise in Egyptian jewellery was the discovery of gold. This allowed Egyptians to collect vast quantities of the metal which was the perfect material to create elaborate Egyptian jewellery designs.

The ancient Egyptians valued personal adornment highly and Egyptian jewellery was worn by womenandmen, and of all social classes. Their statues of gods and kings were decked with lavish jewels. The deceased were adorned in jewellery for their send off into the afterlife. All types of Egyptian jewellery were popular, including bracelets, earrings, collar pieces, anklets, armbands, and rings.

Golden jewellery became a status symbol in pre-dynastic Egypt. It was a symbol of power, religion, and status. It enabled it to before a greater focus for families of nobility, and royals. This created a larger demand for elaborate pieces.

In addition to gold and materials commonly found throughout Egypt, other materials were imported. The favoured material for the Egyptian ScarabwasLapis Lazuli, a semi-precious stone.

High grade Egyptian jewellery was a majorly desired trade item in the ancient world. Their craftsmanship was found across territories including Turkey, Rome, ancient Persia, and Greece.

The Egyptian nobility favoured bracelets, necklaces, amulets, pendants, belts, and hair beads. They loved pieces that had been designed with scrolls, tigers, scarab beetles, winged birds, jackals, antelopes, and tigers. One of the more interesting materials that was commonly used is coloured glass. It was first discovered in Egypt and upon its initial discovery it was incredibly expensive due to its rarity. Coloured glass can be found in Egyptian jewellery depicting birds. The glass was used to represent the feathers.

The nobles wore their expensive jewellery in death as well, and this tradition of securing it in difficult to reach places has allowed archaeologists to discover large quantities of this wealth, perfectly preserved.

Materials and Metals

The predominant materials used to craft Egyptian jewellery were gold and copper. The masses could afford the copper, with the nobility opting for gold. Both were mined in Nubian deserts and in abundant supply. Silver is very rarely uncovered in excavations through Egypt- any use of it was due to its importation, as silver wasn’t available in ancient Egypt. Jewellers would use gold that came in shades of grey, to reddish brown, and rose. The colour variation was due to the mixing of elements such as copper, iron, or silver into the gold.

Gems & Stones

The more lavish pieces of Egyptian jewellery were inlaid with semiprecious stones and various gems. The most prized stones were, as mentioned above, lapis lazuli, as well asobsidian,garnet, rock crystal, andcarnelian.Pearlsandemeraldswere the most commonly uses stones native to Egypt. Although, faience was also used commonly. This was made from ground quartz and then mixed with a colourant that was heated and then moulded to mimic more natural and expensive stones. The most popular of which was a blue-green shade made to imitate turquoise.

Types of Jewellery

Perhaps the most iconic ornament from ancient Egypt is the wide collar necklace. It was generally made of beaded rows and shaped like flowers or animals. The collar was stretched over the wearer from breast to collarbone. It was also common for pendants to be strung on beaded necklaces, bearing an amulet of protection. Both men and women wore earrings, and rings were also popular for men and women.

Protective Amulets

Protective amulets could be worn as independent pieces, but they were often fused into Egyptian jewellery. These amulets were talismans or charms that were believed to either infuse the amulet with power, or to protect the wearer. The amulets were carved into various shapes and forms, including symbols, humans, animals, and gods. Additionally, the amulets were seen as equally significant protectors of the living and the dead. Amulets were made specifically for the afterlife, as memorial jewellery was customary for ancient Egypt.

Archaeologists have garnered knowledge about the culture through excavation tombs. Among the artefacts were everyday objects, as well as jewellery. Their clothing was relatively plain, however Egyptian jewellery was incredibly ornate. Every ancient Egyptian owned jewellery, regardless of gender or class. The ornaments included heart scarabs, lucky charms, bracelets, beaded necklaces, and rings. For noble Egyptians, like queens and pharaohs, the Egyptian jewellery was made from precious metals, minerals, gems, and coloured glass. While others wore, jewellery made from rocks, bones, clay, animal teeth, and shells.

Heart Scarabs

Heart scarabs were common types of funerary amulets. They were sometimes heart-shaped, however, generally beetle or oval shaped. They got their name because the amulet was placed over the heart before burial. The belief was that it counteracted the heart’s separation from the body in the afterlife. The heart chronicled a person’s actions through life, according to Egyptian mythology. In death, the dead would meet the god Anubis, who would perform judgement in the Weighing of the Heart Ceremony.

Beaded Necklaces

Beaded necklaces were also popular amongst Egyptian jewellery. These necklaces often featured amulets and charms, and were made from varying sizes and shapes of beads. The beads were made from minerals, semi-precious stones, clay, and glass.

Spiritual Significance

Egyptians were deep believers in jewellery’s spiritual significance. It was worn to ward off evil spirits, protect their health, as well as bring good luck. Certain colours, designs, and materials were associated with supernatural powers and deities. Carnelian, for example, is an orange-red stone which was suggestive of blood- this infused an ornament with potency and energy. Egyptian jewellers followed very strict rules regarding the mystical aspects of their jewellery creations.